Day 18 of the perennial plant challenge. Gypsophila paniculata ‘Festival Star’ is a new look in baby’s breath! First, this one is super tough, hardy down to 0 degrees F. It blooms from April through October, with sprays of clear white flowers. The stems are short, but still long enough to include as a filler for cut bouquets. It is usually evergreen, with a short mounding habit in the winter.

We planted several plants in the rock garden at the nursery, where there is very little soil, blazing sun, and it only gets watered every 8-10 days. The plant has been blooming for months, even without dead heading or fertilizing. If we did take the time to dead head and perhaps fertilize once during the growing season, I think we would have had even more blooms!

Festival Star only grows to about 14 inches tall and 24 inches wide, so you can tuck it into many places in the garden to add some fluffy white flowers. It is also a terrific addition to a mixed container, really brightening up dark red or blue Salvia or orange blooming Agastaches. It is also a great foil for areas of the garden that may go summer dormant, such as where bulbs are planted.

If you are a flower arranger of fresh or dried flowers, Festival Star is a great addition to your cutting garden. In addition it will attract butterflies, but is deer resistant.